Fume evacuation system

ABSTRACT

A fume evacuation system is designed to remove smoke, fumes, and particulate from a metal-working or other application. The system may include a cart-type base unit or may be incorporated into a fixed or semi-fixed installation that uses suction to draw air (e.g., containing smoke, fumes, and particulate) away from the metal-working application. The fume evacuation system includes a hood that creates an arduous flow path and varying velocity profile, which cools and separates any particulate matter in the suctioned air. The arduous flow path may include multiple sharp turns created by an inner deflector component and an inlet tube. The inlet tube may further contain baffles to cool particulates from the suctioned air.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates generally to fume evacuation systems, such asthose used for welding, cutting, metal-working, and similarapplications.

Metal working operations range from cutting, welding, soldering,assembly, and other processes that may generate smoke, fumes, andparticulate. In smaller shops it may be convenient to open ambient airpassages or to use suction or discharge air from fans to maintain airspaces relatively clear. In other applications, cart-type evacuationsystems are used. In industrial settings, more complex fixed systems maybe employed for evacuating smoke, fumes, and particulate from specificwork cells, metal-working locations, and so forth.

In general, such systems often include a hood or other intake coupled toa conduit that draws the smoke, fumes, and particulate from the worksiteto various filters, blowers, air recirculation and exhaust components.The evacuation system uses suction air to draw the smoke, fumes, andparticulate from the immediate vicinity of the metal-working operation.Further improvements are needed, however, in evacuation systems. Forexample, it would be desirable to cool particulate at an early stagewithin the evacuation system, such that the particulate does not contactand damage any other components of the evacuation system.

There is a need, therefore, for improved extraction systems for weldingand similar metal-working applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides novel approaches to smoke, fume, andspark extraction designed to respond to such needs. The systems areparticularly adapted for welding, cutting, and similar metal-workingoperations that can generate fumes, smoke, hot gases, but alsoparticulate matter. In accordance with certain aspects of thedisclosure, an evacuation hood includes a conical outer shroud and aninner deflector. The inner deflector is disposed within the outer shroudto define a pathway having multiple sharp turns. As such, the smoke,fumes, and particulate are subjected to an arduous pathway, causing theparticulate to cool.

In accordance with certain aspects, the disclosure offers an evacuationsystem that includes an air handling system for drawing fumes away froma metal-working application. An air conduit is coupled to the airhandling system for conveying the smoke, fumes, and other metal-workingbyproducts away from the metal-working application. Further, a hood iscoupled to the air conduit and positioned at the metal-workingapplication. As described, the hood includes an outer shroud with aninner deflector disposed within the outer shroud, which defines a firstsharp turn for metal-working byproducts drawn between the outer shroudand inner deflector. An inlet tube is disposed in the inner deflector,and the inner deflector and the inlet tube define a second sharp turnfor the metal-working byproducts.

In accordance with a further aspect, the disclosure provides anevacuation system again having an air handling system and an air conduitcoupled to the air handling system. Again, a hood is coupled to the airconduit and positioned at the metal-working application. The hoodincludes a structure defining a circuitous path for the smoke, fumes,and particulate. During operation, the circuitous path allows fumes topass through the hood and into the air conduit but causes particulatesto cool.

DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become better understood when the following detaileddescription is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichlike characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical representation of a cart-like fume evacuatorin accordance with aspects of the present techniques;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical representation of fixed or semi-fixedinstallations utilizing the techniques described herein;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary hood for drawingmetal-working byproducts away from a metal-working application;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hood in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the hood in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, and referring first to FIG. 1, anevacuation system 10 is illustrated for extracting smoke, fumes,particulate, and more generally, workspace air 12 from a metal-workingor other application 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the evacuationsystem 10 includes a base unit 16 coupled to a conduit 18 that draws airaway from the metal-working application 14 using a hood 20. The hood 20is designed to be placed at or near (generally above) the metal-workingoperation 14 and, as the base unit 16 is activated, evacuates theworkspace air 12, directing the evacuated air to the base unit 16 forprocessing.

It should be noted that while described with respect to the stand-alonebase unit 16 in certain embodiments, the present disclosure is notlimited to this embodiment, and may be used in conjunction with a carttype unit, a fixed installation, or a different physical configuration.More generally, innovations provided by and described in the presentdisclosure may be implemented into fixed or semi-fixed installations,such as those used in industrial settings. That is, certain componentsof the base unit 16 described herein may serve multiple workspaces, workcells, weld cells, and so forth, by common conduits 18 that that drawsair away from multiple metal-working applications 14. Operator controls,where provided as described below, may be positioned remotely from theseworkspaces, or within the workspaces for control of flow from theparticular workspace.

Returning to FIG. 1, as illustrated, the base unit 16 comprises a blower22, such as a squirrel-cage blower, driven by a drive motor 24. Thedrive motor 24 is controlled by control circuitry 26 which may providedrive signals to the drive motor 24 for fixed-speed or variable-speedoperation. The base unit 16 may be designed to draw power from anysource, such as a power grid, battery sources, engine-generator sets,and so forth. The control circuitry 26 typically includes processingcircuitry and memory for carrying out drive operations as desired by theoperator or in response to system inputs. Accordingly, the controlcircuitry 26 may communicate with an operator interface 28 for receivingoperator settings, speed settings, on-off commands, and so forth.Similarly, the control circuitry 26 may communicated with a remoteinterface 30 designed to receive signals from remote inputs, remotesystems, and so forth. The remote interface 30 may also provide data tosuch remote systems such as monitoring and controlling operation of theevacuation system 10.

In the illustrated embodiments, the conduit 18 extending between thebase unit 16 and the hood 20 may be a suction conduit 32. In general,the suction conduit 32 is under a negative or slight suction pressure todraw air, containing smoke, fumes, and particulate, away from theworkspace. The air travelling from the hood 20 through the suctionconduit 32 may be directed through a suction filter 34 before beingreintroduced into the blower 22. To further optimize the operation ofthe evacuation system 10, suction adjustment 36 may be provided prior tothe suction filter 34. The suction adjustment 36 is shown within thebase unit 16, but may also be located within the conduit 18. The suctionadjustment 36 may include, for example, a butterfly valve, a damper, alouver, baffles, guide vanes, or another mechanical device which may beadjusted to limit the flow rate of air from the suction filter 34 and,consequently, the intake of air into the blower 22 from the ambientsurroundings. Such adjustment may advantageously allow for relative massor volumetric flow rates of the suction airstream to enhance extractionof workspace air containing metal-working byproducts. The controlcircuitry 26 may be coupled to the suction adjustment 36 to regulate itsoperation (e.g., via small adjustment motors and actuator assemblies).

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the hood 20 has an outer shroud38, which is generally conical in shape in exemplary embodiments. Aninner deflector 40 is disposed within the outer shroud 38 to define afirst sharp turn in the flow path within the hood 20. The deflector 40may have a solid bottom surface 42, which prevents the fumes, smoke, andparticulate from flowing directly into the conduit 32 from the hood 20.Accordingly, the solid bottom surface 42 may create an arduous flow pathwithin the hood 20 to cool any particulate and may cause it to drop outof the air flow. The suction provided by the blower 22 may enable theflow path to travel around the deflector 40 as shown by arrows 44. Aninlet tube 46 may aid in creating the arduous flow path, while alsodirecting the flow into the suction conduit 32. To improve sparkremoval, the inlet tube 46 may house at least one baffle 48. Forexample, in the depicted embodiments, the inlet tube contains threebaffles 48, each having a plurality of apertures 50. As described below,each baffle 48 may contain apertures 50 of a different size anddifferent alignment.

It should also be noted that the evacuation system 10 may be adapted toexchange data with other system components, such as a welding/plasmacutting or other system 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the system 52may be, for example, welding or plasma cutting power supplies, wirefeeders, shielding gas supplies, and so forth. These will typically becoupled to the operation to accomplish the desired task on a work piece54. Certain of these systems may be capable of providing control signalsto the evacuation system 10 to allow for turning the evacuation system10 on and off, regulating speeds and air flows, and so forth. Suchcommunications may be provided via suitable cabling 56, by wirelesscommunications, or by other means.

As mentioned above, the present techniques may be employed in systemsand arrangements other than carts or base units that are local to a worklocation. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary fixed or semi-fixed systemthat may be employed in work areas 70 in workshops, factories, assemblyand metalworking plants, and so forth. The common suction conduit 34draws air from multiple metal-working applications 14. In this sense,the conduit 18 forms headers or manifolds that may be positioned overthe work areas or otherwise routed between them. Each work area, then,is provided with a respective hood 20 for extracting smoke, fumes, andparticulate, as well as respective suction adjustments 36. These mayoperate manually or electrically, as mentioned above in the case of thecart-type embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary hood 20 in accordance withcertain aspects of the present techniques. As shown, the hood 20includes the outer shroud 38, which may be generally conical in shape.As discussed in detail below, the outer shroud 38 encloses additionalcomponents of the hood 20 that may be useful in cooling and separatingany particulate from the air removed from the workspace. Particularly,components within the hood 20 may create an arduous flow path for theremoved air to facilitate cooling and particulate separation. It may bebeneficial to remove and cool any particulate in the hood 20.

FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the hood 20, providing amore detailed view of the components internal to the outer shroud 38. Asshown, the inner deflector 40 is disposed within the outer shroud 38.The inner deflector 40 has a solid flat surface 42 orientedperpendicular to the direction of flow into the hood 20 used to createan arduous flow path for suctioned air. The surface 42 blocks thesuctioned air flow from flowing directly into the inlet tube 46 and thesuction conduit 32. Specifically, the surface 42 may force the suctionedair around the inner deflector 40, between a side wall 80 of the innerdeflector 40 and the conical surface of the outer shroud 38. Due to thesuction provided by the blower 22, the suctioned air may then encountera first sharp turn 82 about a rounded edge 84 of the inner deflector 40.The first sharp turn 82 may be between approximately 90° and 180°. Thesuctioned air then travels through a passageway formed by the side wall80 of the inner deflector 40 and an outer surface 86 of the inlet tube46. Again, the suctioned air is impacted by the surface 42 of the innerdeflector 40, imposing a second sharp turn 88 in the flow path about anedge 90 of the inlet tube 46. The second sharp turn 88 may be betweenapproximately 90° and 180°.

The inlet tube 46 contains multiple baffles 48 to prevent anyparticulate from passing through the hood 20. In the depictedembodiment, three baffles 48 are shown. Each baffle 48 has a pluralityof apertures 50 to enable the suctioned air to pass through the baffle48 and into the suction conduit 32. In certain embodiments, the baffles48 may have apertures 50 of varying sizes and placement. The size of theapertures 50 may vary among the baffles 48 to impose a varying velocityprofile on the suctioned air. Further, the apertures 50 may includevarying alignment to create additional turns within the flow path.However, in other embodiments, components other than baffles 48 may beused. For example, mesh screens (metal, plastic, or otherwise) may beused to block particulate while allowing suctioned air to travel throughthe inlet tube 46. Further, any number of baffles 48 may be containedwithin the inlet tube 46.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the hood 20, depicting how the internalcomponents of the hood 20 are arranged. For example, the baffles 48 maybe fixed within the inlet tube 46 prior to the inlet tube 46 beingplaced within the outer shroud 38. In certain embodiments, the baffles48 may be formed as part of the inlet tube 46. Further, the inlet tube46 and outer shroud 38 may be coupled with an interference fit, tabs, asnap fit mechanism, a weld, braze, an adhesive, or otherwise. The innerdeflector 40 may then be disposed over the downstream end of the inlettube 46 to direct flow around the sharp turns 82 and 88, causingparticulate to fall out of the flow path.

While only certain features of the disclosure have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications and changes will occur to thoseskilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appendedclaims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fallwithin the true spirit of the disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An evacuation system comprising: an airhandling system for drawing components comprising air, fumes, smoke,sparks, or particulate, or a combination thereof from a metal workingapplication; an air conduit coupled to the air handling system forconveying the components from the material working application towardsthe air handling system; and a hood coupled to the air conduit andconfigured to be positioned at the material working application, thehood comprising a conical outer shroud, an inner deflector disposed inthe outer shroud and defining a first sharp turn for the componentsdrawn between the outer shroud and the inner deflector, wherein theconical outer shroud has an opening that is larger than the innerdeflector to form an open annular flow path that in operation draws thecomponents into the hood, and an inlet tube that extends into the innerdeflector and defining with the inner deflector a flow path between asidewall of the inner deflector and an outer surface of the inlet tubeand a second sharp turn for the components, wherein the open annularflow path, the first sharp turn, and the second sharp turn define anarduous flow path that in operation cools the components, causes dropout of the particulate, or both.
 2. The system of claim 1, comprising atleast one particulate baffle disposed in the inlet tube.
 3. The systemof claim 2, wherein the at least one particulate baffle comprises aplate-like structure having a plurality of apertures through which thecomponents may pass.
 4. The system of claim 2, comprising a plurality ofparticulate baffles disposed in the inlet tube.
 5. The system of claim4, wherein each of the plurality of particulate baffles comprises aplate-like structure having a plurality of apertures through which thecomponents may pass.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the apertures ofan upstream baffle, in the direction of the component movement, aredifferently sized than apertures of a downstream baffle.
 7. The systemof claim 1, wherein the outer shroud, the inner deflector and the inlettube are disposed concentrically.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein theinner defector comprises a blind bottom end that precludes thecomponents from entering the inner deflector without passing between theouter shroud and the inner deflector.
 9. The system of claim 1, whereinthe air handling system comprises a movable cart.
 10. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the air conduit comprises an arm extending from thecart.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the air handling system and theair conduit comprise a fixed installation.
 12. The system of claim 1,wherein the air handling system comprises an air filter for filteringthe components drawn from the material working application.
 13. Anevacuation system comprising: an air handling system for drawingcomponents comprising air, fumes, smoke, sparks or particulate, or acombination thereof from a metal working application; an air conduitcoupled to the air handling system for conveying the components from thematerial working application towards the air handling system; and a hoodcoupled to the air conduit and configured to be positioned at thematerial working application, the hood comprising: a conical outershroud; an inner deflector disposed in the outer shroud and defining afirst sharp turn for the components drawn between the outer shroud andthe inner deflector, wherein the conical outer shroud has an openingthat is larger than the inner deflector to form an open annular flowpath that in operation draws the components into the hood; an inlet tubethat extends into the inner deflector and defining with the innerdeflector a flow path between a sidewall of the inner deflector and anouter surface of the inlet tube and a second sharp turn for thecomponents; and a plurality of particulate baffles disposed in the inlettube, wherein each of the plurality of particulate baffles comprises aplate-like structure having a plurality of apertures through which thecomponents may pass; wherein the open annular flow path, the first sharpturn, and the second sharp turn define an arduous flow path that inoperation cools the components, causes drop out of the particulate, orboth.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the apertures of an upstreambaffle, in the direction of the component movement, are differentlysized than apertures of a downstream baffle.
 15. The system of claim 13,wherein the inner defector comprises a blind bottom end that precludesthe components from entering the inner deflector without passing betweenthe outer shroud and the inner deflector.
 16. The system of claim 13,wherein the air handling system comprises an air filter for filteringthe components drawn from the material working application.
 17. A hoodof an evacuation system for drawing components comprising air, fumes,smoke, sparks, or particulate, or a combination thereof from a metalworking application, the hood configured to be coupled to an air conduitand configured to be positioned at the material working application, thehood comprising: a conical outer shroud; an inner deflector disposed inthe outer shroud and defining a first sharp turn for the componentsdrawn between the outer shroud and the inner deflector, wherein theconical outer shroud has an opening that is larger than the innerdeflector to form an open annular flow path that in operation draws thecomponents into the hood; an inlet tube that extends into the innerdeflector and defining with the inner deflector a flow path between asidewall of the inner deflector and an outer surface of the inlet tubeand a second sharp turn for the components; and a plurality ofparticulate baffles disposed in the inlet tube, wherein each of theplurality of particulate baffles comprises a plate-like structure havinga plurality of apertures through which the components may pass, whereinthe apertures of an upstream baffle, in the direction of the componentmovement, are larger than the apertures of a downstream baffle; whereinthe open annular flow path, the first sharp turn, and the second sharpturn define an arduous flow path that in operation cools the components,causes drop out of the particulate, or both.
 18. The system of claim 17,wherein the inner defector comprises a blind bottom end that precludesthe components from entering the inner deflector without passing betweenthe outer shroud and the inner deflector.
 19. The system of claim 17,wherein the outer shroud, the inner deflector and the inlet tube aredisposed concentrically.